HONOLULU (KHON2) -- Doctors said suffering repeated concussions could lead to some devastating long-term issues. After local boy Tua Tagovailoa suffered another last night, there's debate on whether he should quit football.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is down and out with another concussion. It's at least the third of his pro career.
"What people have to understand is this is just a game and then there's life," said an emotional Manti Teo on NFL Network's "Good Morning Football."
"After each concussion, your brain needs time to heal," said Dr. Kore Liao, clinical professor of medicine, neurology, JABSOM. "So you really need to not protect yourself not subject yourself to another concussion. You know the inflammation has to come down and the breakdown of the neurons and the connections, the synapses needs time to recover."
Dr. Liao said recovery time could be a few minutes to a few months depending on where the impact was, what was affected and any concussion history.
"Because the brain actually hits, hits a skull on the other side, you know, even on the other side of the head, it could be an injury," said Dr. Liao. "So, even with the amount of force, that could be consequences."
Immediate symptoms could include headaches, dizziness, blurred vision and insomnia.
"As you get up and as you start to get your feeling back, if you notice tools walking off, (Tua) was kind of limping is because you know he doesn't have the feeling back yet in his legs," said retired NFL running back Chris Fuamatu-Maafala, who estimates he's suffered more than 100 concussions over his 7-year career.
Long-term effects could include cognitive impairment, mood swings, memory issues, slurred speech, chronic traumatic encephalopathy or CTE, and according to Dr. Liao, even dementia and Parkinson's Disease.
"This has happened too many times to a star player who just received one of the largest contracts in the history of the National Football League and in the prime of his football career," said retired NFL safety Rich Miano.
Tagovailoa just signed a four-year, $212 million contract extension this summer -- $167 Million guaranteed. That money could be in jeopardy if he decides to retire on his own versus being forced to retire for medical reasons.
"We cannot continue to think about you want to win, and you want to win for your teammates, and you want to win for all the right reasons, but this is just a game," said Miano. "The game of life is so much more important."
"This is what they do, this what he's been doing," said Fuamatu-Maafala. "And again, his warrior mentality. It will be very hard, that'll be a hard discussion to have."
"I just hope for my little brother that he sees, and he understands, knowing that his makeup, he understands what's important in life and I just hope he makes the right decision," said Teo.